*Urges women to turn grassroots influence into electoral power
*Donates ₦3m to community development, ₦500,000 for woman’s medical treatment
The Action Peoples Party (APP) candidate for Imo East Senatorial District, Mazi Chima Matthew Amadi, has called for an end to the cycle of poverty in Imo State, saying poor Nigerians should not be condemned to remain poor in a country endowed with abundant human and material resources.
Amadi also challenged women in Imo East to use their numerical strength and grassroots influence to demand accountable and effective representation through the ballot.
He spoke at the annual August Meeting of the Women’s Wing of the Okpulla Amakaohia Development Union (OADU) in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, where he commended the women for their contributions to community development.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Cajetan Duke, the academic and social entrepreneur from Umuekwenne, Ngor Okpala, lamented what he described as the worsening socioeconomic conditions across communities in the state.
He listed poor healthcare delivery, infrastructural deficits, declining standards in public schools, bad roads, unemployment and economic hardship among the challenges confronting residents.
According to him, the situation reflects years of poor representation and misplaced priorities, stressing that governments and elected representatives at all levels must be more responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens.
“The poor can’t continue to remain poor while a privileged few continue to prosper from our collective resources. Our mothers cannot continue to struggle with medical bills, our children cannot continue to learn in dilapidated schools, and our young people cannot continue to roam the streets without jobs and opportunities. Government must work for the ordinary people,” he said.
The APP candidate said women were among the worst affected by economic hardship because of their central roles in families and communities.
He urged them to translate their influence into political power by voting for leaders capable of delivering tangible development.
Amadi also expressed concern over the declining state of public education, warning that the continued deterioration of public schools could widen inequality and deny children from poor families opportunities to improve their lives.
“As a son of nobody who is a proud product of public schools, I weep daily seeing education gradually becoming the exclusive preserve of privileged members of society,” he said.
“Public education gave people like us the opportunity to dream beyond the circumstances of our birth. We must rebuild a society where the child of the poor has the same opportunity to dream, learn and succeed”.
The event took an emotional turn when Amadi encountered an elderly woman with a conspicuous growth around her throat.
Moved by her condition, he donated ₦500,000 towards her medical evaluation and treatment.
He said the incident underscored the plight of citizens who are unable to afford basic healthcare, insisting that access to medical treatment should not depend on a person’s financial status.
“What we have seen here today is beyond politics. It is about our common humanity. Nobody should have to carry an illness for years simply because she cannot afford medical attention,” he said.
Amadi also announced a ₦3 million donation towards the development initiatives of the Okpulla Amakaohia Development Union.
He praised the women for sustaining the traditional August Meeting, describing it as an important platform for community development, social cohesion and women’s participation in grassroots affairs.
The candidate, however, warned against a situation where communities are forced to take over responsibilities that should ordinarily be funded and delivered by government.
He urged the women to demand accountability from elected officials and scrutinise how public resources are deployed, stressing that elections provide citizens with an opportunity to reward effective representation and reject non-performing leaders.
Responding, the National Vice President of the OADU Women’s Wing, Mrs Victoria Ugochi Chukwu, thanked Amadi for identifying with the community and supporting its development aspirations.
Chukwu particularly appreciated his ₦3 million donation and intervention on behalf of the elderly woman, describing the gestures as evidence of compassion and concern for the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Amadi was accompanied to the event by members and leaders of his campaign organisation and the APP, including Chief Henry Onwukwe, Director-General; Rt. Hon. Michael Crown Njoku; Chief Denis Okwu; Chief K.K. Ikeh; Cajetan Duke; Prof. Uche Nwosu; Engr. Emeka Onwukwe; Lady Chyna Ugwuadu; Chief Uju Ugochukwu; Hon. Obioma Onwuegbucha; Sir Denis Nneji; and Hon. Emma Soronnadi, among others.
